Franklin College of Arts and Sciences

The Franklin College of Arts and Sciences is the oldest and largest college of the University of Georgia (UGA) in Athens, Georgia. Established in 1801 following the American Revolution, the college was named in honor of American Founding Father Benjamin Franklin. Today, Franklin College comprises 30 departments in five divisions: fine arts, social sciences, biological sciences, physical and mathematical sciences, and the humanities. From its founding Franklin College was the sole college of the University of Georgia, and the names of the two institutions were often used interchangeably to describe the fledgling university until 1859, when the university's colleges and schools were confederated starting with the establishment of the College of Law. Franklin College has produced distinguished alumni from a wide array of fields, including Time Inc. editor-in-chief John Huey, Pulitzer Prize-winning poet Natasha Trethewey, R.E.M lead vocalist Michael Stipe, chef and television host Alton Brown, actor Wayne Knight and former Georgia Governor Roy Barnes.